Le thé est-il une plante médicinale ? | Kusmi Tea

Is tea a medicinal plant? | Kusmi Tea

Depuis des millénaires, les feuilles de thé infusées sont consommées quotidiennement en Chine. Dans la plupart des pharmacopées du continent asiatique, elles sont considérées comme un puissant remède. Fort de son succès, le thé s’est hissé à la première place des boissons les plus consommées après l’eau. Mais les vertus du thé sont-elles bien réelles ? Découvrez les bienfaits d’une boisson qui a conquis le monde entier.

Découvrez nos thés bio >Nos thés bio >

En résumé : Le thé provient des feuilles du Camellia sinensis, cultivé surtout en Asie. Selon leur traitement, elles donnent du thé blanc, vert ou noir, aux teneurs variables en antioxydants. Riches en polyphénols, les feuilles de thé auraient des effets protecteurs : réduction possible de certains cancers, baisse de la tension et du cholestérol. Chaque variété offre des bienfaits spécifiques.

For millennia, brewed tea leaves have been consumed daily in China. In most pharmacopoeias of the Asian continent, they are considered a powerful remedy. Building on its success, tea has risen to first place among the most consumed drinks after water. But are the virtues of tea really real? Discover the benefits of a drink that has conquered the whole world.

Discover our organic teas >Our organic teas >

First of all, where does tea come from?

Tea is made from tea leaves, belonging to a species of shrub called Camellia sinensis or more commonly tea plant. It is mainly cultivated in Asia, particularly in China, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The dried leaves are used in the composition of the drink, being infused in hot water for a few minutes.

Texts attest to the consumption of tea in China since the end of Antiquity. It is very widespread and appreciated for its supposed medicinal virtues. Tea then gradually spread throughout Asia before conquering Europe during the Renaissance. The drink was first prescribed to combat headaches or digestive problems, then gradually gained popularity.

The different varieties of tea

Black tea, green tea or white tea come from the same species. After harvest, the tea leaves will undergo different treatments in order to offer varieties of tea with different flavors. Very delicate, white tea is made from young dried buds. Very little oxidized, white tea retains a large part of its antioxidants.

Green tea is directly exposed to heat to prevent oxidation. As it is not fermented, its antioxidants are also better preserved. As for black tea, it undergoes a fermentation process before being dried. The result is a very oxidized tea, particularly rich in theine. Like coffee, black tea is appreciated for its stimulating aspect.

The supposed health properties of tea leaves

Tea leaves contain polyphenols, a family of molecules produced by plants to protect against external aggressions. Polyphenols in particular turn out to be powerful antioxidants. In 2012, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study conducted on 75,000 Chinese women who regularly consumed green tea. They observed that ingesting green tea would reduce the risk of cancers of the colon, stomach and esophagus.

These are the polyphenols which have the ability to prevent the development of cancers. The ECGC “epigallocatechin gallate” also contained in tea prevents the formation of free radicals in order to regulate oxidative stress. Another study carried out by American researchers shows the natural ability of green tea to lower blood pressure. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory action, it could even reduce cholesterol levels.

Tea is a drink with multiple benefits that you would be wrong to deprive yourself of. At Kusmi, it accompanies you from morning until bedtime. Start the day right with a big bowl ofOrganic English Breakfast, the breakfast black tea. At snack time, take a comforting break with a cup of organic almond green tea. To lead you into the arms of Morpheus, you will no longer be able to do without rooibos Lovely Night.